From: Andrea Hetzke

Hey there everyone. I am going to give you a detailed description of "shrink art" because many of you have been asking for it. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF IT!-or of signing up either. I have only used it one time and (It scared me alittle the first time because it curls up-it eventually goes flat)- but many of you have never used it before either. Let me repeat- most of us are beginners so do not be afraid!

First of all Rubber Stamper JAN/FEB 1999-pg56-61- had an article featuring shrink art - this is where i got the following info-

1) there are 4 kinds of shrink art- black white clear translucent

2) 1 sheet is about 50 cents

3) stamp in same direction on shrink art - not on an angle b/c the shapes might distort differently

4) use PIGMENT INK - dye does not work well-I KNOW!

5)image can be colored before or after shrinking

6) color can be done with pencil, oil pencils, chalk, metalic, gel,...

7) color intensifies when shrunk

8) becomes 3x stronger-so make sure that the edges are not sharp- cut before you shrink

9) SAND THE PAPER- in both directions- so it holds the color

10)use oven,or heat gun to shrink--these things get very hot so be careful

11)images curl then flatten out- do not worry

12) hot shrink art will not ruin your stamp

13) HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know this sounds like a lot of work but it is not - it's fun!!
andrea

---

What can you do with shrink plastic? Well, Lisa Mallette told me about a really cool technique that I've been experimenting with. Cut the shrink plastic into shapes. Shrink it down with your heat gun. When it's fully shrunk and flattened out but still soft, press an uninked stamp REALLY hard into the shrink plastic. You have to do this really quickly because it cools and hardens very fast. After pressing the stamp into the plastic for about 10 seconds, remove the stamp. (It pops right off.)

Then use metallic rub ons or Rub N Buff to bring out the design. These would make really pretty quickie ornaments or package tie-ons (just punch a hole into the shrink plastic before shrinking). Lisa says that to make hers really special, she cuts the shrink plastic to match the shape of the stamp.

Here's the trick - stamp the image on a piece of paper. Copy it on the photocopier, enlarging it 80%. Use the enlarged copy as your template for cutting the shrink plastic.